Mop and brush holder



Nov..19, 1929. J. J. DOBIL 1,735,918

MOP AND BRUSH HOLDER Filed April 16. 1928 Patented Nov. 19, 1929 UNITED STATES JOHN J. DOBIL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS MOP AND BRUSH HOLDER Application filed April 16,

My invention relates to mop and brush holders of the hand operated or household type, and my main object is to produce an article of this kind which is exceedingly simple in construction and easy to handle.

A further object of the invention is to construct the novel article from heavy spring wire, so that the production of the same may be efiected largely by machine methods.

A still further object of the invention is to assemble the same from a small number of units which are united with a peculiar relation and are self-reinforced.

Another object of the invention is to so fashion the elements of the novel holder, that several parts usually made separately are formed integrally from the structure of the holder, thereby saving extra labor and methods.

A final, but nevertheless important object of the invention is to produce an article of this kind which enables the mop or brush to be quickly applied or'removed and is not affected by knotting or snarling tendencies in 5 the mop strands.

With the above objects in view and any others that may suggest themselves from the specification and claims to follow, a better understanding of the invention may be 3 gained by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the novel holder in position for use, dotted lines indicating the positions of the mop and brush, and also the method of releasing these articles; and

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the holder opened for the mounting or removal of the I t is a familiar fact that in the use of household mops the mounting of the mop requires more or less careful handling and treating of the same to secure the proper fit between the jaws of the holder. Also, with the use of the mop, it frequently becomes entangled or stuck to the jaws of the holder, so that when it is to be removed for renewal, much difliculty and annoyance is experienced in trying to loosen the strands from the holder, it often being necssary to cut the mop to pleces and 1928. Serial No. 270,398.

discard the same in order to clear the holder for another mop. This, of course, makes for waste as concerns the purchase of a new mop, and also for loss of time and patience by reason of the 'difiiculties related. Further, when the conventional holder is considered, it will be seen that it is assembled from a wood stick, a pair of jaws, a spring, and possibly other parts, requiring different units to produce them and specialmachine or hand labor to assemble; also," these parts frequently get out of order and the holder is difficult to set or open and becomes unsatisfactory on general principles. It has been my intention tov lend the novel mop and brush holder a radically different construction, whereby to eliminate the difficulties in its manufacture, handling and use, and accomplish the aboveoutline'd objects to their fullest extent.

Referring specifically to the drawing, it may be generallystated that the novel holder is composed of four major parts, these being the stationary jaw 5, the movable jaw 6, the mop rack 7, and the brush clips 8.

The stationary jaw 5 is formed from a single length of heavy gauge spring wire, my preference being for spring steel stock about one-fourth inch in diameter and copper plated to resist rust. The general form of the stationary jaw is pentagonal, the sides of the main section 5 being laterally spaced and adjacent to the end section 9 and the converging inner sections 10. The inner sections 10 combine to form a shank 11 of twisted forma tion, this shank serving in the nature of the stick in the conventional mop holder. One of the wires of the shank 11 is looped to form a T-end 12, which serves as a handle.

' The movable j aw 6 is also generally formed on the lines of the stationary jaw, except that its shank 13 is considerably shorter.

At the junctions of the lateral sections and the converging sections of the respective j ans, 5, 6, the same are pressed at each side with inward off-sets 14, 14, respectively. The jaw (5 is forcedwithin the jaw 5 with its offsets 1 L engaging the off-sets 14 of jaw 5, whereby to provide a pivotal relation between the jaws without the use of any extra parts. Thus, the jaws are shown closed in Figure 1, while in Figure 2 the movable aw 6 has been swung away to a position at right angles with the stationary jaw 5. Thus, with the jaws closed, they are designed to fully register as far as their lateral and terminal sections are concerned. In such an event a side hook carried by the shank 13 of the jaw 6 is in a position to be caught about the shank 11, the shank 13 being slightly sprung during this action, so that it may by its tension retain the hook 15 in engagement with the shank 11. The shank 13 is extended beyond the hook 15 with a looped handle 16, which is used to unhook the shank 18. from the shank 11 when it is desired to open the holder.

The mop rack will now be described, It will be noted that the lateral sections 5 of the stationary jaw are't'ormed with alined depressions 17. The rack 7 is a straight length of wire, one of whose ends is looped as indicated at 7 and linked to one of the depressions 17. The rack is adapted to be swung to seat with its other end in the other depression 17. Thus, when the mop has been opened as shown in Figure 1, it is an easy matter to swing out the rack 7 and wrap the mop or an assembly of cloth over the same; no particular care or threading is necessary,

, it being sutficient if the mop is simply hooked or anchored upon the rack. The latter is then swung back to seat with its free end in the corresponding depression 17 and the movable jaw closed as explained before. The mop will now be firmly clamped between the end sections of the jaws and immediately ready for use. Conversely, when the mop is to be removed for cleaning or repair, the action is reversed, it being exceedingly easy to run the mop or miscellaneous strands off the rack since its free end is not hampered by any other part. Such end projects into free space, and makes the removal of its contents very quick and easy. Y

I employ the mop rack 7 for the support of i a brush holder, as identified by the clips 8.

These are simple lengths of the same kind of wire, and pointed to form hooks 18, the medial portions being twlsted to form loops 19,

V which are slid onto the mop rack 7 As noted in Figure 1, the clips 8 are laterally spaced and may receive a brush 20 by the retentive action of the hooks 18 upon the conventionally grooved brush head. The clips are con- 1 structed with an inherent contracting tension,

whereby they may exercise a firm hold upon thebrush once they have engaged the head thereof.

lVhen the holder is used for mopping purposes, it will do no harm to leave the brush holding clips 8 mounted on the mop rack, so that it the work of mopping alternates with that of scrubbing, the brush may readily be installed in order to make both the mop and brush handy for use as desired. However,

it will be understood that where the holder is used mainly for mopping purposes, the clips 8 might better be removed, in order that nothing may impede the free action of the mop. Also, if it is found that only the brush is to be used for any length of time, the

mop may be removed for the time being and evident, and one need not be skilledto handle and operate the holder. No delicate parts are involved which may stick or get out of order, and the construction is so open that the mounting and removal of the mop or similar article may be accomplished easily, quickly, and without any particular attention. From the standpoint of manufacture, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that machine methods may be employed to form each of the four units with very little manual assistance, so that the novel holder may be producedat trifling cost.

While I have illustrated and described the invention in the preferred form, it will be evident that the same is capable of many minor changes and refinements and it is my intention to include such changes and refine ments as coming within the spirit and scope or" theappended claims.

Iclaim r 1. A mop holder comprising a shank, a

head extended from the shank and formed with a seat, a mop support adaptedIto seat in thevlatter, and a movable jaw carried by said holder and adapted to close on the mop support and head to secure the support in seated position.

2. A mop. holder comprising a shank, a head extended from the shank and formed with a seat, a mop support. pivoted tothe head andadaptedto rest in the seat, and a movable jaw carried by said holder adapted to close onthe mop support and headto secure the support in seated position.

8. A mop holder comprising a shank, a looped head extended from the latter and formed with a pair of laterally-spaced offsets.

one of the offsets and adapted'to swing and seatin the opposite offset, brush-supporting clips slidably receivable upon the support, and a movable jaw carried by the head adapted to close on the rack to secure the same in seated position.

5. A wire mop holder comprising a main section having a looped portion forming a jaw at one end and an integral shank, said shank having a handle portion at the opposite end from said jaw, a second section having a shank and a looped integral portion forming a jaw, the loops of said sections having interengaging portions forming pivots substantially mid-way their ends whereby the jaws may be swung together, and a mop rack movably carried by one of said loops and adapted to be engaged and looked in a set position by said loops when the same are brought together.

6. A mop holder comprising gripping portions pivotally connected, each portion having a shank arranged so that the gripping portions will engage when the shanks are swung together, one of said shanks comprising adjacent strands of wire, one of said strands terminating in a lateral hook adapted to engage the shank of the other gripping portion, and the second strand of wire terminating in a handle whereby said two strand wire shank can be manipulated to engage and disengage said hook from the other shank.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOHN J. DOBIL. 

